In my last article, we reviewed how the "Thought Train" and how this works. In short, thoughts act like magnets. Thoughts almost magnetically attract similar thoughts -- not opposite thoughts. This helps to explain why it is so hard to change a thought pattern, whether positive or negative, if we are deeply grounded in those thoughts.

It's important also to understand that the end of the thought train contains the feelings or emotions. It's like the caboose (containing the feelings) must respond to the thoughts before it.

This discussion is important because our children are very susceptible to the thought train that we model for them. My goal today is to give you tools to help you shape your child's train of thoughts -- to keep them on a path toward optimism, happiness and success.

Ignore repeated trains of negative thoughts

Most of us are much too interested and seduced by our negative thoughts. We might become easily tempted with critical or harsh thoughts that take us into states of anger or frustration. We don't like the feelings, but again, we forget that we jumped on the train a while back, and now we are stuck living in the consequences of that choice.

We do the same with our children, and the results are disastrous. We become much too interested at times with repetitive thought trains where children find what's wrong with the world. They focus on what isn't right, or find the single bad moment out of their day to expound upon. Don't do it! Instead, learn to intentionally ignore negative thoughts.

Do this for your own thoughts, and do this with your child's thoughts as well, keeping in mind that these are typically patterns of thoughts and emotions that you hear over and over. In this way, you take energy away from the negative train.

Reach for a better set of thoughts

Good feelings will follow. This is the tricky part. Usually, we want better feelings when we are caught in the bad ones. Makes sense right? And it's hard to just shift feelings when we are deep in the negative. However, the feelings do follow the thought train. When we remember this, we can then reach for a better set of thoughts. Better feelings will quickly follow.

So, the secret is to reach (with your attention) toward thoughts that bring better feelings. In other words, you intentionally begin to think about something that interests you, ignites your passion or inspires your sense of gratitude.

You could also begin to think about what and whom you love, as well as what you enjoy. It takes a few minutes, but the reach quickly brings benefits to even us grown-up kids.

For your children, however, the impact is much more amazing. You can actually shape the way their brains habitually think.

When you practice, you will speak differently and ask different questions.

Equally as important, when you use this tool to ignore negative patterns of thought, your children learn to abandon those thought trains of negativity. They can then learn, from what you model, how to reach for the positive through better thoughts.

Starting today, I challenge you to reach for more uplifting, positive and inspiration thoughts. Bring those into your home and watch the value of those healthy thought trains shaping your children's more optimistic future.